Health, Safety and the Environment

3M Canada has a long history of responsible environmental stewardship, and remains committed to continuous improvement in environmental, health and safety performance.

We comply with respective regulations, but that is just the starting point. In many cases, our corporate policies and goals far exceed legal requirements.

Meeting these internal criteria has resulted in a number of innovative and leading edge programs in areas ranging from air emissions to energy conservation and ergonomics.

Each 3M Canada facility has formal environmental, employee safety, industrial hygiene, security and emergency response programs reflecting the unique nature of each operation.

We also review the environmental, health and safety aspects of our products, from development through manufacturing, use and disposal.

Regular internal audits ensure these programs are working. Environmental progress, for example, is monitored by our Environmental Management System operating in tandem with ISO 14001 registration, which is accepted world-wide as the premier standard for constantly improving environmental performance.

We are working hard to serve today's customers safely, while respecting the resource needs of future generations.

Environmental Goals - 2001 - 2005

• Improve energy efficiency per kilogram of product by 20%.
  
• Reduce waste (chemical and trash) per kilogram of product by 25%.
  
• Reduce volatile air emissions per kilogram of product by 25%.
  
• Reduce NPRI releases per kilogram of product by 50%.
  
• Double the number of 3P projects from the previous five-year period.

RESULTS:

• 91% reduction in volatile organic air emissions (solvents), 1990-2000
• 41% reduction in the rate of waste generated per tonne of manufactured product, 1990-2000
• 33% reduction in employee accident incident rate, 1996-2000
• 21% reduction in rate of energy used in manufacturing per tonne of manufactured product, 1995-2000
• 30% reduction in all releases, including manufacturing scrap, 1990-2000

Setting voluntary standards tougher than government regulations:

Air emissions - our greatest challenge

Our use of petroleum-based solvents to manufacture tape, sandpaper and other products result in releases of volatile organic solvents (VOCs).

During the drying process, these solvents evaporate and, unless controlled or eliminated at the source, become air emissions.

We have spent over $25 million in emission reduction in the last decade, eliminating solvent use where possible (our preferred method), recovering it for re-use or destroying emissions using thermal oxidation.

3M Canada plants reduced VOCs 91% between 1990 and 2000, in spite of large increases in product volumes.



Voluntary Year 2000 goals
1. Reduce process releases to the environment 90% by the year 2000, based on 1990 levels, and ultimately approach zero releases.

At 3M Canada, we reduced total waste releases to air, land and water by 30%. We are anticipating significant further reductions by 2001/2.



2. Reduce process waste generation 50%, as a per cent of product produced, between 1990 and 2000.

3M Canada achieved a 41% reduction. This figure excludes our Industrial Minerals mining site. Like most mining operations, waste rock is an inherent part of the process. Some new uses have been found for this rock, but the majority of it is returned to the quarry as part of our site restoration plan.

3. Reduce energy consumption by 3% per year for each tonne of product manufactured and for each square meter of office space, for a 15% reduction between 1995 and 2000.

3M Canada’s manufacturing operations lowered their energy use ratio by 21%. Non-manufacturing areas saw a 9% reduction. This figure excludes our Industrial Minerals mining operation. That facility also is reducing energy use, but the vast weight of products produced by a mining operation defies meaningful comparison with weight of products produced in general manufacturing.



Smog precursor emissions

Solvent (VOC) air emissions make up the vast majority of our smog precursor output. We also release some oxides of nitrogen (Nox) from our use of natural gas as fuel, and from fleet vehicle emissions. Our smog precursor emissions have dropped 90% since 1990.



Smog alert response program

3M Canada is a partner in the Ministry of the Environment’s Smog Alert Response Program.

We work with the Ministry in relaying smog alert information to employees. Along with other companies, we will voluntarily curtail production should daily air quality reach a critical level.

Greenhouse gas emissions

We produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions only by consuming energy. We create some of these emissions directly, through combustion of natural gas and vehicle fuels.

We also include in our calculations GHG emissions we create indirectly, when we buy electricity that may be generated by fossil fuels. Since 1975, we have substantially improved our energy and greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide) efficiency. We have been steadily decreasing the amount of energy used (and greenhouse gas created) per tonne of manufactured product.

Thanks to this continuing commitment to improved energy efficiency, we have held energy consumption (and GHG production) at nearly 1990 levels (7% increase), although our manufacturing output has increased dramatically in the last decade at our conventional manufacturing plants.

Production did dip at our Industrial Minerals mining operation, where GHG production per tonne of product is very low, and product weight extremely high. Although there was some energy savings as a result of this production dip, it hurt, rather than helped our overall efficiency expressed in GHG produced per tonne of product shipped.



Ozone-depleting chemicals (ODCs)

3M Canada uses no Class I ozone-depleting chemicals (including CFCs, carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform) in any manufacturing process. We are also phasing out ODCs in on-site equipment such as refrigeration units and fire protection systems.

Environmental targets for the new millennium

3M is creating new targets for its world-wide operations.

Performance measurements will be more than strictly reduction goals. They will stress environmental performance in a broader sense to drive reduced energy and other consumption, while continuing to lower emissions and lessen risk to health, climate and the ecosystem.

Managing continuous improvement:

Environmental Management System and ISO 14001 Registration

Continuous improvement is supported by a formal Environmental Management System at six of 3M Canada’s seven plants, in Brockville, London, Morden and Perth. (Introduction at our Havelock operations is under way.)

In addition, the Brockville, London, Morden and Perth plants have earned international ISO 14001 registration, recognized in over 130 countries as a premiere standard for improving environmental performance.

Our environmental policy:

3M Canada recognizes the need for responsible environmental management and resource conservation. It will:

• Continue to recognize and exercise its responsibility to solve its own environmental pollution and conservation problems
• Continually improve environmental performance
• Prevent pollution at the source wherever and whenever possible
• Provide a formal framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets
• Conserve natural resources through reclamation and other appropriate methods
• Ensure that facilities and products meet or exceed regulations of all environmental agencies
• Assist, wherever possible, governmental agencies and other official organizations engaged in environmental activities

Pollution Prevention Pays

Unique when created in 1975, this internationally recognized employee incentive program is designed to encourage 3Mers to develop programs that prevent pollution at the source.

This eliminates potential environmental problems and avoids the cost of cleaning up pollution or treating it after the fact.

3M has developed more than 4,700 pollution prevention projects world-wide over the last 25 years, eliminating 807,000 tonnes of pollutants and saving more than U.S. $827 million.

3M Canada programs have saved more than $5 million in the last decade.

Technical Innovation

3M is a technological leader in preventing pollution at the source through:

• Product reformulation to replace raw materials or feedstocks that create environmental difficulties
• Modification and redesign of manufacturing processes to reduce or eliminate pollution, including the control of offending byproducts
• Modification and redesign of equipment to increase efficiency and decrease waste (emissions)
• Resource recovery for re-use or recycling within 3M or by outside sources

Safety and health

3M Canada’s safety record is among the best in Canadian industry, as well as in 3M’s global operations.

However, assuming all workplace accidents and illnesses are preventable, we work toward continuous improvement in all facets of safety and health in the plant, office, laboratory and on the road

Our health and safety policy:

Regardless of job level, each employee is accountable for managing a safe working environment through proactive identification and elimination of hazards. Each must be committed to:

• Making health and safety part of daily job duties and business decisions
• Meeting or exceeding all external regulations and company standards
• Designing safe processes and operating facilities safely
• Training to reduce risks on and off the job
• Sharing information about potentially unsafe conditions, study results
• Participating in investigations, audits and follow-up activities

Health and safety practices:

Each location has a comprehensive safety program, based on the principles of internal responsibility and due diligence.

• Safety orientation and job-hazard-specific training
• Accident/near miss investigation and follow-up
• Process safety management
• Industrial hygiene and ergonomics evaluations
• Proactive worker protection programs
• Contractor safety Workplace inspections
• Joint worker/management health and safety committees
• Driver training
• Fire plan

Recognizing that people are five times as likely to be injured off the job than at work and that many serious illnesses are lifestyle related, our program includes holistic elements such as wellness programs, which help employees lead happier and healthier, as well as safer lives.

Product responsibility/Life Cycle Management

Making improvements at every stage of the product life cycle, from inception to design, raw materials, manufacture, use and disposal, is a key part of continuous improvement in environmental stewardship.

3M’s life cycle management methodology is designed to ensure 3M products present no unreasonable impact at any point on the environment, energy and resources, health or safety.

This means choosing safe, environmentally sound, energy efficient options for raw materials and manufacturing processes. We also emphasize the preferred environmental hierarchy - source reduction, reuse, recycling, treatment and safe disposal - and work to reduce the impact of regulatory compliance on 3M and our customers.

3M Canada Company Environmental, Health & Safety
P.O. Box 5757 London, Ontario N6A 4T1
Telephone: 519/451-2500
Health, Safety and the Environment
E-mail innovation.ca@mmm.com

Environmental Policy Signed (PDF, 712 KB)

Health and Safety Policy Signed
(PDF, 746 KB)